Smoking delivers immediate effects and is the most common marijuana delivery method. However, it’s not safe, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical experts say taking edibles is a safer alternative to smoking and vaping in the pandemic.
If you haven’t taken edibles before, it’s important to understand how this delivery method works, how much you should eat, etc. However, edibles don’t kick in immediately as smoking. They take longer and last longer instead. To buy cannabis gummies, chocolates, and beverages legally, you require a medical cannabis card.
Read The Label Carefully
At medical dispensaries, you can find a wide range of cannabis-infused edibles. Each edible product contains different strengths of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Checking ingredients in edibles is important because they impact the marijuana effects you receive. In the dispensary, you can find high-potency edibles mixed with sugary ingredients. However, if you are a fitness enthusiast, it’s good to prefer edibles with no sugar and additives.
However, when buying edibles, make sure you check the label carefully. It must include the following items-
- Retailer information
- Cannabinoid profile
- Child-proof packaging
- Processor’s information
- Manufacture and best by date
- Barcode for retail sale
- Total cannabinoids
- 21+ and not-for-kids stickers
Additionally, before using edibles, you should read the guidelines carefully to avoid any negative effects.
Start With Lower Doses
Since you are trying edibles for the first time, it’s hard to tell how they are going to affect your system. Maybe you get those relaxing and anxiety-relieving effects. Or maybe you won’t get what you expect. So, start with a low dose. The objective is to learn how your body responds to edibles.
Cannabis edibles come in milligrams. They include dose intervals, such as 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, etc. 10 mg is considered a standard dose—start with it. Microdosing is used for stimulating the body’s cannabinoid receptors for improving mood, sleep, appetite, etc.
After you get your body familiar with edibles, you can increase the dose to receive the desired health benefits. However, some patients are able to alleviate their symptoms with lower doses. So, there’s no need to increase the dose.
Consider Your Tolerance Levels
Everyone has different tolerance levels. Some consumers need just 10 mg to get a good night’s sleep while others need 50 mg to receive the same effects. So, tolerance matters.
It’s important to note that low THC tolerance can lead to side-effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, etc. There’s a wide range of factors affecting tolerance. These include the frequency of consumption, how long you have been consuming, and body chemistry. Additionally, medical experts have confirmed that age can play a role in cannabis tolerance. So, before you eat edibles, understand your tolerance. This will help you know how much cannabis you require to get the desired effects.
If you are taking edibles with a group of friends, their dose is less likely to work for you since they have their own tolerance levels.
Be Patient
The marijuana plant contains hundreds of compounds called cannabinoids and terpenes. These compounds work together to deliver ultimate therapeutic benefits, such as anxiety relief, pain relief, etc. It’s important to note that different strains work differently. Some deliver immediate effects while others may take some time. So, you should always wait to analyze the effects of a particular strain on your body.
Edibles are processed differently than smoking and vaping. Starting with a low dose is great, but gauging the marijuana effects on your body is very important. For instance, you take a piece of a chocolate bar, but don’t get anything. Instead of taking the second dose, wait some more time.
Set The Right Conditions
There’s a wide range of things you must consider when consuming edibles, such as your physical & emotional state. Be aware of the environment settings that make your edible experience amazing. Maybe you like eating with your friends. Or, maybe you have the ultimate experience by eating edibles alone. So, you should determine what works well for you.
If you are staying at home, find a safe place to consume edibles. However, being around experienced consumers makes you feel comfortable, thus avoiding the risks.
Be Mindful of What You Have Eaten
Before eating marijuana edibles, consider the foods and beverages you have consumed. If you eat on an empty stomach, cannabinoids will kick in quickly. Additionally, alcohol can increase THC blood concentration. So, be careful when mixing the two.
420 doctors recommend eating a decent meal before taking edibles. This allows the compounds to take some time to absorb, thus, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed.
Additionally, there’s scientific evidence supporting the fact that eating a meal is necessary before consuming edibles to receive the health benefits of THC and CBD. It’s believed that doing so may enhance the compounds’ bioavailability.
Also Read- 6 Misconceptions About CBD You Should Know
Potential Risks of Edibles
While edibles provide various health benefits, they can lead to some side-effects. Regular cannabis consumption can impair brain development, cognitive function, and heart health. Medical experts believe that long-term use may increase the risks of schizophrenia.
Overdose is another major risk. THC concentration varies in different cannabis products. Moreover, it’s quite hard to determine the amount of THC in homemade edibles.
Unlike smoking & vaping, edibles don’t kick in immediately. This increases the risks of consuming larger amounts. An edible overdose can lead to nausea, paranoia, panic attacks, etc.
Since edibles are available in candies, chocolates, etc., there are chances that children and other family members can consume them. For pregnant ladies, marijuana use isn’t safe.
So, we recommend you talk to a board-certified doctor to discuss your condition and seek professional help for dose, cannabinoid concentration, etc. to minimize risks.
How to Get a Medical Cannabis Card Online?
To access cannabis for health benefits, you must have a medical cannabis card signed by a licensed doctor. Since it’s not safe to visit a clinic amid the COVID-19 pandemic, you can opt for seeing a doctor online. It’s 100% safe and you can receive your MMJ recs in PDF. Here’s the complete process-
- Fill a simple form
- Talk to a licensed doctor via HIPAA-compliant software
- Receive your MMJ recs in PDF via email
Final Thoughts
Edibles are considered as one of the safest methods of consuming cannabis. Unlike smoking, it doesn’t produce harmful chemicals that can cause lung problems. Additionally, you have a wide range of options (such as gummies, candies, chocolates, pizzas, etc.) to choose from.
When using edibles for medical purposes, you must consider various factors. Dosage is very important. Since edibles have a longer onset time, there are favorable chances of overdose. So, always wait for some time, and let the compounds digest before you take the second dose.
Consider your tolerance—it’s totally different for everyone. If someone is getting anxiety relief and relaxation with 20 mg of chocolate, it’s not necessary that you have to consume the same amount to get the same effects. Start with a low dose and analyze how your body responds to cannabinoids. Seek professional help for using edibles for your condition.
Get a medical cannabis card to access state-licensed dispensaries legally.